Former Manchester United star Luke Chadwick crucial for Cambridge United play-off push

Luke Chadwick could prove a godsend for Cambridge United, according to Richard Money, after making his debut in last night’s 2-1 win at home to Welling.

The former Manchester United star signed for the club he has supported since he was a boy on loan until the end of the season from Milton Keynes Dons yesterday.

And Money was thrilled to capture the 33-year-old midfielder, who has also turned out for West Ham, Stoke and Norwich City.

He said: “Sometimes things fall in your lap. Luke is a Cambridge supporter, he’s a Cambridge boy and the first contact really came from him because he wants to help this club to get promoted.

“He wants to see his career out here, he wants to become a football coach and develop in that aspect of his life and he thinks we can help him do that.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the signing because he brings quality, knowhow and experience and I think we’re going to need all those three elements in the coming weeks.”

Money admitted it was a “big win” for United with Delano Sam-Yorke coming off the bench to score the winner after Adam Cunnington had earlier opened the scoring with a spot kick on his comeback after three months out.

He said: “Some days it really is all about the result and we needed the three points, so five points from the three home games is probably not what we’d have wanted, but it’s not a disaster.

“I think the players have worked tirelessly to get that result. We still know there’s a lot more to come and a lot of improvement to come, but it’s not that easy to win those games and we have, so that’s pleasing.

“They’re the sort of team who can come here and have nothing to lose and sometimes with that mindset it’s easier to play, but we saw the game through and got the result.”

Cunnington came off with a knock soon after netting, but Money said he was confident the striker would be okay.

He said: “I think the intention was only really to give him an hour, but we needed to make a change at half time.”